President Muhammadu Buhari has denied that his administration had ceased paying the allowances of former President Goodluck Jonathan and frozen the ex-president’s accounts.
In a statement issued today and signed by Garba Shehu, Mr. Buhari’s senior aide on media and publicity, the Presidency refuted claims that Mr. Buhari was pursuing vendetta against Mr. Jonathan and other past leaders in the country.
“The allegation by demonstrators in Bayelsa State on Thursday that allowances due to a former president have been stopped and his bank accounts were frozen is patently untrue,” Mr. Shehu stated.
He added: “We have confirmed with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) that the former President and the other past leaders were paid their allowances up to the second quarter.”
According to the presidential statement, the past leaders have not been paid their third quarter allowances, but he clarified that they would get paid “when remittances are received by the SGF from the Ministry of Finance.”
Mr. Shehu also dismissed allegations that the former president’s account had been closed, adding that the investigation agencies were not aware of any such action.
“The National Security Adviser to the President is not aware of this bank account closure; the DG SSS is unaware of it, the EFCC is unaware and the IG of Police is not in the know,” Mr. Shehu stated.
The presidential spokesman questioned the motive of those alleging vendetta against the former president, adding that there was “a premeditated attempt to blame President Muhammadu Buhari for something he knows nothing about.
“These claims are false and poorly sourced to present a picture of vendetta; and they should be disregarded by well-meaning members of the public.”
Mr. Shehu declared that President Buhari “remains committed to the ideals of justice and fairness to all irrespective of creed, religion and political leanings. His administration will not engage in vendetta.”
